Friday, January 19, 2018

Today in Soap Opera History (January 19)

1967: Roger burned David's painting on Dark Shadows.
1981: Guiding Light's Alan showed up at Jennifer's trial.
2009: GL's Olivia kissed Natalia.
2010: As the World Turns' Reid had no time for Luke.

"Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1956: Actor Charles Dingle died at age 68. He played Conrad Overton in Irna Phillips' daytime soap opera The Road of Life.

1967: On Dark Shadows, the ghost of Josette duPres materialized in David Collins' room and magically completed David's painting so that it now depicted him and his mother surrounded by a wall of flames. Later, Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) threw the painting into the fire. As it began to burn, screaming erupted from the canvas.

1973: On The Doctors, Carolee (Carolee Campbell) and her husband, Dr. Steve Aldrich, realized that their daughter, Stephanie, was kidnapped.

Thanks to Scott for sending in the item above.

1976: On Ryan's Hope, Kenneth Castle (Ty McConnell) forced Faith Coleridge (Faith Catlin) to the floor in an effort to escape from the house without being recognized.

1981: On Another World, Jamie Frame (Richard Bekins) for arrested for aiding and abetting his mother, Rachel Cory (Victoria Wyndham), who was a wanted fugitive. Meanwhile, Mitch Blake (William Gray Espy) brought Rachel inside the cabin after finding her in the snow.

1981: On Guiding Light, Mike Bauer (Don Stewart) called Jennifer Richards (Geraldine Court) to the witness stand at her trial for the murder of Lucille Wexler. As she testimony began, Jennifer froze when she saw Alan Spaulding (Christopher Bernau) in the courtroom.

1981: On The Edge of Night, Molly Sherwood (Laurinda Barrett) fell to her death down a flight of stairs while attempting to kill April.

1989: Actor Martin Blaine died at 75. He played Lionel Steele in Young Doctor Malone and Judge Clinton Bridges in Days of our Lives.

1989: USA Network aired their final rerun of The Edge of Night. The network had been showing episodes of the canceled daytime soap opera since 1985.

1996: On All My Children, while under the influence of painkillers, Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) turned her Woman of the Year acceptance speech into a tirade.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

1996: On General Hospital, Jason Quartermaine (Steve Burton) woke up in the hospital and squeezed Robin Scorpio's (Kimberly McCullough) hand. Robin ran off to get Bobbie and Tony. Alan and Jason talked, but Jason didn't remember him.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

2000: Actor Alan North died at age 79. He played Jack Bauer in Guiding Light and Capt. Sean Delaney in Another World.

2007: Austin Peck debuted as Brad Snyder in As the World Turns.

2009: On Guiding Light, Emma Spencer gave a speech about her two mommies. Later, Olivia Spencer (Crystal Chappell) pulled Natalia Rivera (Jessica Leccia) into a kiss.

2010: Eric Sheffer Stevens debuted as Reid Oliver on As the World Turns.